Road Freight Dispatching: A Lucrative Business for American Freight Brokers in the Balkans
Originally published in French for "Le Courrier des Balkans" on July 3rd 2026.
PUBLICATIONS (EN)
7/3/20263 min read
American road freight brokers are increasingly outsourcing their dispatching operations to companies based in the Balkans. However, the lack of regulation in this sector has left the door open to abuses, to the extent that U.S. authorities have launched an investigation.
For the past decade, many American freight brokers have relied on dispatching companies in several Balkan countries, particularly North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro. From the United States, freight brokerage firms connect companies shipping goods with trucking carriers, negotiate transportation rates, and earn a commission on every shipment.
These brokerage firms (some of which are owned by local nationals, especially Serbians) must be licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in order to operate in the United States. As part of a broader effort to divide labor and reduce costs, they simultaneously contract dispatching companies, outsourcing the logistical management of freight shipments. Their responsibilities range from planning the most efficient truck routes and tracking deliveries in real time to coordinating communication between drivers and freight brokers regarding cargo volumes, as well as providing logistical support when incidents occur on the road.
A Profession Growing in Popularity
Road freight dispatching companies have flourished throughout the Western Balkans, where labor is relatively inexpensive and workers often have strong English-language skills, allowing American freight companies to lower their operating costs. Over the years, these firms have expanded their services to include driver recruitment, regulatory compliance monitoring, and accounting.
Marketed as a quick way to earn money - sometimes while working from home - the trucking dispatch sector is nevertheless known for its difficult working conditions. Employees must work according to U.S. time zones, often requiring evening or overnight shifts for minimum wage. A former dispatcher, speaking anonymously, tells us that remote work and frequent communication problems between the different parties create significant stress. According to them, many workers leave the job after only a few months.
The employment relationship is also based on a precarious model. Several contractual arrangements exist. In the most common, local dispatching companies sell their services to American freight brokers. In other cases, both local and U.S. companies hire workers who are registered as self-employed contractors and assign them dispatching work directly.
Several Cases of Abuse Reported in Serbia
This self-employed status is not specifically regulated in either Serbia or neighboring countries, and the legal gray areas surrounding it leave room for potentially abusive practices. The former dispatcher explains that their employer, for example, asked them to resign before signing a contract as an external service provider. Although their duties remained exactly the same, they were no longer paid a salary but instead invoiced the company for their services. This arrangement enabled the employer to reduce its taxable payroll and avoid paying social security contributions.
Speaking to the Serbian media outlet 021 , Aleksandar Vasić, president of the Serbian Association of Tax Advisors, explained:
"There is a risk of what is known as disguised employment when a local company hires a large number of independent contractors while simultaneously imposing working hours, providing the necessary equipment, requiring the exclusive use of company email addresses, and organizing their training. The motivation is often tax-related, but this model is highly risky and may involve elements of tax fraud."
Independent contractors are then taxed under a different flat-rate regime than regular employees - a fact that many dispatchers are unaware of, according to Vasić - which can result in unpleasant surprises when they file their taxes.
Federal Investigation Underway
Serbian workers are not the only ones affected by the practices of unscrupulous companies. An investigation aired on the American television program 60 Minutes on CBS highlighted alleged abusive practices by the Serbian transport company Super Ego Holdings, which offers freight brokerage, dispatching, and trucking services. A class-action lawsuit has been filed in the United States by former company drivers after a whistleblower, himself a former employee, alleged that the company actively encouraged its dispatchers to violate safety regulations. According to the allegations, dispatchers pressured drivers to exceed the legally permitted driving hours and deducted money from their paychecks under the guise of leasing, insurance, or maintenance fees.
Although the company accumulated more than 15,000 violations and over 500 accidents during the past two years, it allegedly avoided FMCSA sanctions by operating as a "chameleon company" - liquidating entities and re-establishing them under new names. Super Ego's attorneys deny all allegations of fraud. According to CBS journalists, a federal investigation is currently underway to determine the full extent of the alleged misconduct.
Published for Le Courrier des Balkans on July 3rd 2026: https://
www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/le-juteux-business-du-dispatching-routier-95461/